Saddle



Sept. 21, 1937. J w BRANDT 2,093,906

SADDLE Filed Oct. 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- 3 MWQ AM BY 9% ma QW u), ATTORNEY:

Sept. 21, 1937. J. w.' BRANDT 2,093,906

SADDLE Filed Oct. 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. w RM NIOATTORNEWPatented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES SADDLE Application October 8,

6 Claims.

My invention relates generally tosaddles, and more particularly tosaddles of the general type employed for cycles.

The saddles previously in common use, with which I am familiar, aresubjected to a number of objections; those which are entirely made ofleather do not have the quality of riding comfort to a satisfactorydegree, so that commonly saddles have been made and used wherein a toplayer of leather overlies a layer of cushioning material, such as feltor the like, there being commonly a base structure such as sheet metalto which the top covering is affixed in a number of different ways.

Commonly a layer of fabric material, such as canvas or the like, aresuperposed under the cushioning material and the difierent layers arestitched together in a relatively expensive manner.

Due to the increased cost of leather in later years, substitutes forleather have been commonly used. Such leather and leather substitutematerials absorb moisture and when exposed to the elements deteriorate,and soon lose the smooth, glossy frictionless surface so much desired bythe riders of cycles.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved vehicle saddle ofthe above type in a molded unit comprising a suitable cover and acushion of sponge rubber or the like, underlying the molded top.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved saddlecushioned in such a manner as to provide for the greatest comfort to therider, and so reinforced as to provide against deformation while beingused and having sufficient inherent resiliency that when flexed in useit will restore to its normal unstressed form.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved vehicle saddleor top structure which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture andassemble.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved vehicle saddletop structure which is neat appearing and possesses exceptionalresiliency and cushioning qualities.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved vehicle saddletop structure designed to remain integrally secured to the understructure despite exceptionally severe usage or strains.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vehicle saddle, thesurface of which becomes durably smooth with continued usage.

These and other objects of the invention will become increasinglyapparent from a considera- 1932, Serial No. 636,883

tion of the following description and drawings, wherein:

PATENT emcee,

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of avehicle saddle embodying a preferredform of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a medial sectional the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; a

view taken along ,1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary viewillustratingthe j Fig. 7 is a section takenalong the line l-l of Fig. 6; I v

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8- -8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-;9 of Fi 6; i:

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing a rubber plate which I mayemploybefore the introduction of a reinforcing plate; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View of a construction which I may employ forsecuring the saddle to the under structure.

Referring to the drawings, a molded rubber seat element having embeddedtherein, by the molding operation, a preferably sheet metal element 2which acts as a reinforcing member. -The element 2' is generallytriangular in shape and preferably conformssdn contourto the saddle seatoutline and, as indicated in the sectional views, the border portions ofthe element 2 extend substantially .towardthe I have shown at I I edgesof the seat I and are encasedin molded rubber or the like. I

The molded rubber element I, is preferably of ordinary flexible rubbersuch as used in-automobile tires, rubber gloves, and the like, and mayvary widely in composition whereby different degrees of flexibility,surface hardness, and stiffness may be achieved.

The element 2 at the pommel end thereofis molded to and disposed belowthe element 2 and still provide a gripping means for a clip 6 adapted tosecure a reach rod Hi to the element 2 and clips l'| adapted to securesprings 88 to the rear portion of the element. The clip 6 comprises aneye portion 9, and a body portion I3 comprising superimposed planularextensions, the extensions being adapted to be projected through theU-shaped portions of the element 2 formed by the strap 4 and securedtherein preferably by clamping over the lower extension as indicated atI I..

Clips 'l--| comprise an eye [3 and body portion of superimposed planularextensions as indicated at l4, the body portion being perforated toprovide' a longitudinal slot l5. The clip 6 and the clips |Tare adaptedto secure a reach rod [6 and springs l'lll respectively to theelement 2and the molded seat portion I.

The tongues 55 are projected through the slit I5 and bent over asindicated at 10, thereby looking the clip to the base. As is mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 3, a layer of rubber is interposed betweenthe clips 6 and l and the element 2 thus ensuring additional resiliencyand minimizing any tendency of the seat to squeak.

The element 2 is stamped and perforated as previously described andplaced in the mold with a layer of rubber both above and beneath andextending beyond the peripheral portions of the element. As indicated atl8, the sides of the seat extend downwardly and are integrally molded toa downwardly extending rear portion I3, the contour of which is bestillustrated in Fig. 4.

To add to the riding comfort, in the use of the saddle, a relativelysoft cushion element 20, composed preferably of sponge rubber, ispreferably molded within the enclosing outer body of relatively harderrubber; a layer of relatively hard rubber is preferably disposedintermediate the element 2 and the sponge rubber and a thin layer of therelatively harder rubber covers the surface of the sponge rubber. Thewearing qualities attained by utilizing relatively durable harder rubberfor the seat surface are not sacrificed, yet considerable additionalresiliency resulting in greater riding comfort is obtained by theprovision of the interiorly pocketed sponge rubber.

Although the rubber pocket containing the sponge rubber may take anydesired form, I preferably utilize a generally triangular shape incontour as indicated by dotted lines 2|, thus providing the greatestresiliency at points where the greatest pressure is exerted upon theseat by the rider.

The reach rod I6 is secured to the springs 8-8 in anydesired mannerand'constitutes no essential part of my invention. Thesprings 8 arepreferably so constructed that the upper spring end convolutionsterminate in outwardly extending arms 23 disposed transversely of theseat and are projected through the eyes l3-I3 of the clips I, previouslydescribed.

The construction as described provides a seat of rugged construction,and great resiliency, which is economical of manufacture and assembly.

Although I do not limit myself to the specific construction shown anddescribed for securing the seat to the reach rod and helical spring, Ipreferably employ the shown construction, utilizing clips whereby arelatively great hinging action may be obtained atthe connection pointlike.

I have illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11 another embodiment of my inventionwherein a sheet metal plate is secured to a molded rubber saddle topstructure by so forming the molded rubber top as to constrictinglyengage the border portions of the plate.

In the embodiment shown, a sheet metal plate 33 generally similar to theplate 2 previously described is employed, the plate comprising a pommelportion 3| and a cantle portion 32 and in contour conforms to thegeneral shape of the saddle.

The pommel portion 3| of the metal plate 30, is preferably provided witha downwardly extending U-shaped strap 33 formed by providing spacedtransversely extending slits and pressing the intervening metaldownwardly.

The cantle portion of the plate 30 is provided with downwardly extendingtongues 34 formed by perforating the plate in a Z-shaped manner andbending the perforated portion downwardly whereby the tongues 34 will becontained in a plane extending longitudinally of the plate.

The saddle top construction is adapted to be supported by the plate andcomprises a preferably molded rubber body 35 provided with a pocket orpockets 36 on the under side of the unit within which is disposedcushioning means 3'8 secured therein in any suitable way, such as by useof an adhesive, by molding integrally tour, being usually as shownspaced inwardly from the border portions thereof as indicated at 38.Although I have shown two pockets 3'l-3l, it is understood that a singlepocket or any desired number of pockets may be employed.

For the purpose of securing the rubber body constituting the top of thesaddle to the metal reinforcing'and supporting plate 30, I'provide apreferably continuous inturned flange of the rubber body disposed nearits borders on the undersideof the body, said flange comprising the rearflange portion 44 and lateral flange portion 43, and a forward flangeportion 42, which is in the form of a wedge bridgin-gthe two lateralflange portions, and providing a socket 4|.

The reinforcing plate 30 is secured to the rubber plate 35 by insertingthe pommel end portion of the plate 30 within the pocket 42 and stretching the borders of the rubber body 35 whereby the aforementionedinturned flanges of the body 35 will be snapped within the channel orgroove provided under and towards the sides as a result of the provisionof the flanges 44, 43, and web flange 42. e I

In normal use, the reinforcing plate 30 will thus be entirelygripped bythe downwardly extending lateral and rear portions of the rubber body35. The plate 30 and rubber body portion 35 will thus be easily andpermanently secured together due to the constricting action of therubber, which, retracting after deformation during assembly, will causethe channel groove to receive the border portions of the reinforcingplate 30. The channel groove is so formed as to tightly engage thereinforcing plate thus insuring absence of play between plates 30 and 35despite severe and constant usage.

I provide a reach rod 45 generally triangular in shape having a U-shapedfront portion and provided with laterally extending prongs 4646 at thecantle or rearward end of the rod. The

Cir

prongs to terminate in upwardly extending projections i'i adapted toengage laterally spaced helical springs tit- 38 the bottom convoluti'onsof the springs '48 are closely spiraled to encircle the portions il ofthe reach rod at the spring axis. The upper end convolutions of thesprings it are bent laterally inwardly as indicated at 58, whereby thespring may be secured to the saddle in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

To secure the U-shaped front portion of the reach rod to the saddle, Iprovide a clip 58 comprising an eye and a body portion 52 comprisingsuperimposed planular extensions. The planular extensions are forcedover the reach rod so that the eye 5! forms a hinging support thereforand the planular extensions or body portion is forced through theU-shaped strap 33 of the reinforcing plate 3d, the end of one of theplanular extensions being bent downwardly whereby the clip 58 issecurely locked to the saddle. This provides a simple and inexpensivelocking means and permits of a desired hinging action between the pommelof the saddle and the reach rod.

The springs 6,8 are secured to the reinforcing plate 3 3 in a mannerbest illustrated in Fig. 11. I provide a clip 53 having an eye portion54 and a body portion 55 comprising superimposed planular extensions,the body portion being provided with a central slot as indicated at 55.The tongues 35 are projected through the slot 56 and bent laterally asshown at 57. The laterally extending spring end 359 thus hinginglyengages the eye 5 3.

Although it is understood that any desired understructure may beemployed, I preferably employ the aforementioned structure due to theadded resiliency and flexibility attained due to the hinging actioneffected at both the pommel and cantle portions of the saddle.

This construction provides a relatively inexpensive saddle possessinggreat resiliency, the top structure comprising a molded unit easilysecured to the reinforcing plate.

Although I have shown and described modifications of my invention, Icontemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

l. A cycle saddle comprising a sheet metal plate having portions pressedtherefrom wherev by it may be secured to a reach construction, a

relatively hard rubber molded body provided with downwardly extendinglaterally yieldable portions, an inner peripheral groove being providedsubstantially at the juncture of said portions with the body, the edgesof said plate extending outwardly into said groove, a body of spongerubber intermediate said plate and the top surface of the bodyterminating inwardly of the groove portion and body.

2. A seat of the class described comprising a body of molded rubber, asheet metal reinforcing plate embedded in the molded rubber and stampedout tabs on said metal plate which protrude from the surface of thesurrounding rubber for attachment purposes.

3. A seat of the class described comprising a body of molded rubber, asheet metal reinforcing plate embedded in the molded rubber, spaced padsof relatively soft cushioning rubber disposed above the plate andcovered by a relatively thin top layer of the molded rubber, the padsbeing integrally molded with the rubber body, and attaching meansdepending from the underside of the seat.

l. A seat of the class described comprising a body of molded rubber, asheet metal reinforcing plate having its peripheral portions, at least,embedded in the molded rubber, spaced pads of relatively soft cushioningrubber disposed above the plate covered by a relatively thin layer ofthe molded rubber, the pads being integrally molded with the rubber bodyand underlying a major portion of the seating area, and attaching meansdepending from the seat base.

5. A seat of the class described comprising a body of molded rubber, asheet metal reinforcing plate embedded in the molded rubber, spaced padsof relatively soft cushioning rubber disposed intermediate the plate anda top relatively thin layer of the molded rubber, the pads beingintegrally molded with the rubber body and being substantiallysymmetrically disposed on each side of the longitudinal median line ofthe seat, and attaching means depending from the seat base.

6. A seat of the class described comprising a body of relatively hardmolded rubber, a sheet metal reinforcing plate having its peripheralportions, at least, constrictingly engaged by the relatively hardrubber, spaced pads of relatively soft cushioning rubber disposed abovethe plate terminating a substantial distance inwardly of the plateperipheral portions, the pads being covered by relatively thin layers ofthe molded rubber and being integrally molded with the rubber body, andattaching means depending from the plate for securing theseat to asupporting structure.

JOHN W. BRANDT.

